UConn freshman Kentan Facey cleared by NCAA

UConn freshman Kentan Facey, left, and Niels Giffey smile as they look to an official for a call during an inter-squad scrimmage at the Huskies’ First Night event on Oct. 18 in Storrs. On Friday, Facey was cleared by the NCAA to participate in games with UConn.
Jessica Hill — The Associated Press

Kentan Facey has been cleared to begin his basketball career at UConn.

Facey, a freshman forward from Long Island, was granted a waiver by the NCAA on Friday and will have four years of eligibility, beginning this season.

“I am so pleased and excited that everything has worked out for this outstanding young man,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said in a statement released by the school. “It’s great to see him go through this situation and persevere. He just kept working very hard and believed in our university.”

Facey’s eligibility had been in question because he graduated from high school in his native Jamaica, then came to the U.S. and attended Long Island Lutheran for two years. It could have been determined that his eligibility clock for college had already started two years ago, and that he would have had only a couple of years to play at UConn.

But the NCAA ruled differently, thanks in no small part to the diligence of UConn’s compliance staff.

“UConn compliance staff is dead serious!!!” Facey said in a tweet on Friday. “Thank you lord!!! NCAA, thank y’all, too.”

Said Ollie: “I want to thank our university compliance department, which went above and beyond to help us with Kentan’s situation and the NCAA, which took the time to evaluate all the extenuating circumstances before making a final decision. Obviously, we feel it was the fair solution.”

Facey has been practicing with the Huskies since practices began nearly a month ago, but he wouldn’t have been able to play in any of the Huskies’ games until learning of the NCAA’s decision. UConn’s exhibition opener is Wednesday against Southern Connecticut State in Storrs.

“I can’t say enough about what a model student-athlete Kentan has been in spite of the situation he was facing,” Ollie said. “He never let circumstances distract his positive image of himself and that’s just a testament to his strong character. We are very excited that he will be with us this year and beyond.”

Facey, a 6-foot-9 forward, was the New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012-13 after averaging 14.8 points, 13 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game. He is expected to give a needed boost to the Huskies’ front line.